Relationships can make us happier and healthier

Do you every wonder who you bring forward everyday, into the car, the kitchen, the classroom, the boardroom, the shops, the sports fields?

And why that particular 'you' showed up in that way in that situation?

Do you wonder the same of others?

Do you ever consider the enormous impact our showing up has on each other?

Beyond just affecting each others moods, we affect each other's wellness, we affect each others development.

Let's say that again; we affect each other's wellness and development.

Never is this more real than in the adult-child relationship.

A longitudinal study at Harvard on happiness tracked over 700 people and their over 2000 children for over 75 years, and still continues today. They are interviewed, their families are studied, their brains are scanned and their blood is tested… and the unequivocal message is that

CONNECTED RELATIONSHIPS MAKE US HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER.

In parenting this is termed 'secure attachment' and it requires us to know, accept and love ourselves enough that we are able to connect with the children in our worlds from a place of openness, emotional availability, curiosity, trust and of course love.

One of the biggest gifts we can give our children is to work on ourselves. This means we can then help our children work on themselves without carrying the crosses of our pasts too.

Let's get clear,

let's be available,

let's love on our children greatly and

with clarity and connection.

It's good for all of our hearts, brains, bodies and minds.

If you're in Pietermaritzburg this Thursday, 8 September we'll be presenting a Fundraising talk for Singakwenza at Cordwalles Preparatory School you can get all the details here.

We are beginning the Ballito Contemporary Parenting course next Monday. A few places have become available so if you're still wanting to join us see details below and be sure to sign-up this week.

If you're in Durban, we have a host for an Umhlanga course and we'd love to see you there. This is the final course of 2016. If you are keen to host us at your school or in your home in 2017 please mail us on [email protected]